Poll

Columns

There’s nothing like spending the holidays on the back of a garbage truck, the wind forming icicles in my hair, the stench of goodness-knows-what filling my nostrils. It’s particularly a good workout the week after Thanksgiving when people start throwing away all of their leftovers, the bags often weighing more than I do.

Many of you may recall an issue the Kentucky General Assembly discussed in the 2016 Session, known as “REAL ID,” which requires Kentucky to meet modern federal regulation standards on the issuance of identification. Known as Senate Bill (SB) 245 in the 2016 session, the bill passed both the Senate and the House but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Bevin because of concerns will the bill’s future implications.

With only about two-and-a-half weeks left before Christmas, time is drawing short for those looking for the perfect gift or a holiday event to attend.
Fortunately, there is help available, beginning with the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and the Kentucky Arts Council. The websites for both (Kentuckytourism.com and artscouncil.ky.gov) have collected long lists of available businesses and attractions that are doing their part to make the season special.

Using robots they designed, built and programmed, more than 200 Kentucky students will compete in the VEX IQ Challenge on Saturday at the Hardin County Schools Early College and Career Center (EC3).
There’s no doubt this upcoming regional event — with more than 50 teams from the Lincoln Trail region and other areas of the Commonwealth — and the growing number of schools that are developing new robotics teams present unique opportunities for individual students.

I love this time of year.
People seem happier.
Food tastes better.
Work seems a little less stressful.
(The election is over. Need I say more?)
But, there is one thing I really dislike about the holiday season - the stress we inflict on ourselves about buying Christmas gifts.
Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves? Why do we care so much? What has created this materialistic monster that seems to take over the real meaning of the season? Our society is so obsessed with things, money, buying, etc.

Kecha Richardson wants what any loving parent wants. She wants to provide for her children, and she wants to set an example that gives them the confidence and drive to find their own success.
That common dream can’t begin to take shape for Kecha without self-sustaining employment. Often there are barriers to entering or progressing in the workforce.

It may not have generated much publicity, but Kentucky’s economy hit a high-water mark in October, when our civilian labor force saw its biggest one-month gain in at least 40 years. It grew by almost 15,000 during those 31 days, putting us just shy of two million people who are either working or actively looking for a job.

I have been immersed in American history lately, particularly with the World War II era. I can’t tell you why, to be perfectly honest. Maybe the current political climate has inspired me to study how we got here. Perhaps I long for a different time than the one in which I live.
Honestly, though, I think I am simply in awe of the people who came before us, paving the way for a world where we can be free.

This week, our families and friends will sit down at the dinner table to celebrate Thanksgiving, the oldest of the American-based holidays.

Nearly 400 years have passed since the most famous of these harvest feasts was held by the Pilgrims and Native Americans. It didn’t become the holiday we recognize today, though, until President Washington and then President Lincoln helped solidify its place on the calendar, which Congress finalized in the 1940s by declaring it to always be on the fourth Thursday of November.

The hustle and bustle of the winter holidays is well underway and the cool crispness of the autumn air is turning towards winter frost. Even as the weather changes and the holiday season comes upon us, we are still busy in Frankfort with interim joint committee meetings as well as planning for the 2017 session of the General Assembly.